Which gear should an automatic transmission car be in when parked?
3 Answers
For an automatic transmission car, the correct procedure for parking is to engage the P (Park) gear. The proper steps are: after positioning the car in the parking spot, keep the brake pedal pressed and shift to N (Neutral) gear, engage the handbrake, release the foot brake, then turn off the engine, and finally shift to P gear before removing the key. Automatic transmissions have two gears used for parking: P and N. From a structural perspective, both gears can be used for long-term parking. The actual difference between P and N gears lies in their locking mechanisms: N gear is neutral and can be used for short-term parking; P gear is the parking brake, which makes the braking system bear most of the force. Therefore, for long-term parking, it's best to engage P gear last.
I've been driving for over a decade, and there are nuances when it comes to shifting gears in an automatic transmission when parking. For instance, when waiting at a red light or during a brief stop, it's usually sufficient to shift to Neutral (N) and engage the handbrake, so you don't have to keep your foot on the brake pedal. If you're completely stopping the car and preparing to turn off the engine, you must shift to Park (P), which fully locks the transmission. Especially when parking on a slope, first shift to Neutral, engage the handbrake firmly, wait for the car to come to a complete stop, and then shift to Park. Shifting directly to Park can cause the transmission gears to clash, potentially leading to damage over time. Also, don't forget to turn off the air conditioning and audio system when parking—saving some battery power is always a good idea.
During car repairs, transmission damage cases are frequently encountered, many of which are caused by improper parking operations. For automatic transmissions, the key to parking lies in differentiating scenarios: on flat roads, shifting directly to P (Park) is fine; but on steep slopes, you should first engage the electronic parking brake to secure the vehicle before shifting to P. Pay special attention to never turning off the engine while in D (Drive), as this puts stress on the transmission and can easily damage the drivetrain. Additionally, when parking on icy or snowy roads in winter, it's safest to shift to P and lightly press the brake to ensure the vehicle doesn't roll.
